Explosion-engine.



E. L. THOMAS. EXPLOSION ENGINE. nrmonron rmm m3. 1, mo.

Patented Mar.3,1914.

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EXPLOSION ENGINE. APPLICATION IILBD nun. 1, 1910.

1,088,851. Patented Mar.3,1914.

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EDWIN THOMAS, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

EXPLOSION -ENGINE.

To all whom it ma com-em:

Be it known t at I, EDWIN L. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo in the county oi Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Explosion-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a Valve mechanism for explosion engines and the object of the invention is to distribute the wear and lubrication of thevalve evenly over a larger surface and also provide means for packing the same so as to prolong the life of the valve and prevent leakage.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of an explosion engine embodying, my improvements. Flg. 2 1s a fragmentary horizontal section taken in line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa detached side elevation of one of the valve pistons, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the valve taken in line 6-6, Fig. 3. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Within each cylinder 1 is arranged a vertically reciprocating working piston A which is pivotally connected in a well known manner with the upper end of a pitman or connecting rod' 8. Arranged lengthwise in the crank case or base and journaled horizontally in suitable bearings thereon in a crank shaft 9 having a crank 6*, which is connected with the lower end of the connecting rod of the piston.

10 represents a spark plug arranged in the firing end of the cylinder.

13 represents an upright valve cylinder which has its central part connected with the upper or firing end of the working cylinder by means of a main port or passage 14. At its upper end the valve cylinder or casing is connected with a fuel suppl by means of a pipe 15 opening into the side of the valve cylinder, as shown or in any other suitable manner while its lower end communicates with an exhaust pipe or outlet 16 which also preferably extends laterall from this end of the valve cylinder.

Within the valve cylinder is arranged a combined inlet or fuel valve and outlet or exhaust valve which is preferabl constructed in the form of a piston 17 w ich rotates about a vertical axis and 1s so constructed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flled larch 7, 1910. Serial No. 547,660.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

that the working cylinder with which the same is associated is successively connected with the fuel supply during the suction stroke of its working piston, then cut oil from both the fuel inlet and exhaust outlet during the following stroke of the workin cessively connected with the exhaust or outlet during the exhaust stroke of the workmg piston. For this purpose the valve piston is provided between its ends with two laterally opening ports 18, 19 which are arranged circumferentially in line and transversely or horizontally in line with the main port of the companion working cylinder. The port 18 which is comparatively wide circumferentially is arranged in advance of the inlet port 19 which is comparatlvely narrow and follows the exhaust port in the direction of rotation of the valve piston, as shown in Fig. 6. The inlet port 19 is connected with the inner or lower end of an inlet passage 20 which opens at its upper end through the upper end of the valve piston into the upper end of the valve cyliner while the exhaust port 18 communicates with the upper end of an exhaust passage 2]: formed in the valve piston and extending throu h the lower end thereof into the lower end oi the valve cylinder. This valve piston is rotated once during every two rotations of the crank shaft in a manner common in four stroke cycle engines. During the operation of the engine the valve piston first sweeps with its inlet port 19 horizontally past the main port 14 of working cylinder during the suction stroke of its piston, then the intervening solid part of the periphery of this piston valve closes the main port of the cylinder while the piston is effecting its compression and working or firing strokes and then the exhaust port of the valve piston is moved into register with the main port of the working cylinder for permitting the spent gases to escape from the same, thereby completing one cycle of operations.

At the same time that the valve piston is rotated in its case or cylinder for the purpose of connecting the working cylinder successively with the intake and the exhaust, this valve piston is reciprocated' vertically or lengthwise of its axis. By this means a more even distribution of the wear of the valve and the lubrication of the same between its periphery and the bore of the valve cylinder is obtained which reduces the compression and firing piston and then sucwear on the valve and prolongs the time which the same can run without requiring adjustment or repairs. Various means may be provided for thus imparting a combined rotary and axially reciprocating movement to the valve piston, that shown in the drawings, as an example, being constructed as follows:' 22 represents 'an upright valve spindle journaled in bearings 23,. 24 at the lower end of the valve cylinder and the adjacent part of the crank case and connected at its upper end centrally to the valve piston. The lower part of this valve stem passes through the hub of a horizontal'spiral'gear wheel 25 which is mounted on the adjacent part of the crank case so as to be rotation but held against axial movementrelatively to the valve stem. The latteris connected with the driven spiral gear in such manner that it is compelled to turn with the spiral gear but is capable of sliding axially therethrough this being preferably effected by fluting the lower end of the valve spindle so as to form a plurality of splines 26 which engage withcorresponding ways or grooves in the bore of the driven spiral gear. 27 represents a horizontal main valve shaft which is journaled lengthwise in suitable bearings on the crank case or frame adjacent to the valve spindles and driven from the main crank shaft at the rate of two turns of the crank to one turn of the valve shaft. To the main valve shaft is secured a driving spiral gear wheel 31 which meshes with the driven spiral gear wheel on one of the valve spindles, whereby motion is transmitted from the crank shaft to the valve piston for turning thesame in the manner described. 32 represents an auxiliary connecting rod which is pivotally connected at its lower end with a wrist 33 formed on an adjacent arm of the crank shaft while its upper end is preferably forked and pivotally connected with a shifting collar or swivel 84; which is rotatably mounted upon the valve spindle between upper and lower collars 35, 36 thereon so that the valve spindle is compelled to move vertically or lengthwise with the auxiliary connecting rod but is free to turn independently thereof. The auxiliary wrist 33 is preferably nearer to the center of the crank shaft than the main wrist of the crank which connects with the working piston, the extent of the throw of the auxiliary wrist being such that the valve piston is reciprocated in the cylinder for distributcapable of ing the wear and lubrication while being rotated without, however, interrupting the communication between the exhaust and in: let port of the valve piston with the main port of the working cylinder.

For the purpose of preventing leakage of gas between opposite ends of the valve piston and cylinder packing means are provided which may be variously constructed same.

mechanism therefore exactly alike,

but which preferably consists of a plurality of split spring rings 37 arranged in annular grooves at opposite ends of the periphery of the valve piston and engaging with the bore of the valve cylinder,'as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

For the purpose of preventing circumferential leakage between the and cylinder and thus efiectually. separate the live fuel from the dead gases which enter and leave opposite ends of the valve piston respectively, packing means are provided which preferably consists of a plurality of longitudinal packing bars 38 each of which is arranged in a longitudinal groove 39 formed in the periphery of the valve piston,

therewith and prevent leakage circumferen-' tially between the valve cylinder and piston. When this valve is removed from the engine the packing bars are held against separation from the valve piston by engagement of their retaining fingers with the inner sides of the adjacent packing rings, thereby permitting of assembling the parts more conveniently while erecting the engine or dismembering the same for inspection or repairs.

Only two longitudinal packing bars are actually necessary for preventing communication between the opposing ends of the inlet and exhaust ports of each valve piston but three of such bars are preferably employed, as shown in Fig. 6, for the purpose of ba ancing the pressure of this packing and maintaining the valve piston reliably in its central position.

By thus constructing and timing the working pistons, valves and igniting mechanism the working strokes of the engine are produced in-an irregular order from one end of the series of the working cylinders to the other instead of successively from one end of this series to the other,

valve piston thereby balancing the strains or torque on the engine and avoiding undue racking and wear on the Furthermore, by thus timing the parts it permits of constructing the several pairs of working cylinders and the valve thereby materially reducing the cost of manufacture.

I claim as my invention} 1. An explosion engine comprising a working cylinder, a working piston arranged in said working cylinder, a combined fuel and exhaust valve cylinder having a fuel inlet at one end, an exhaust outlet at its opposits end and a main port between its ends eading to said working cylinder, a tubular valve piston movable lengthwise and rotatable in said valve cylinder and having an inlet passage which opens through that end thereof next to said inlet and has an inlet port at the side of the valve piston and an outlet passage which opens through the other end of (the valve piston next to said outlet and has an outlet ort at the side of the valve piston circum erentially in line with the inlet port, said inlet and outlet ports being adapted to communicate successively with said main port during the rotary movement of said valve piston, packing rings arranged in circumferential grooves at opposite ends of the valve piston and engaging with the bore of the valve cylinder, and packing bars arranged in longitudinal grooves in the periphery of the valve piston between said inlet and outlet ports and each provided at its opposite ends with rabbets which receive the inner sides of adjacent packing rings.

2. An explosion engine comprising a working cylinder, a working piston arranged in said working cylinder, a combined fuel and exhaust valve cylinder having a fuel inlet at one end, an exhaust outlet at its opposite end and a main port between its ends leading to said working cylinder, a tubular valve piston movable lengthwise and rotatable in said valve cylinder and having an inlet passage which opens through that end thereof next to said inlet and has an inlet port at the side of the valve piston and an outlet passage which opens through the other end of the valve piston next to said outlet and has an out-let port at the side of the valve piston circumferentially in line with the inlet port,'said inlet and outlet ports being 'adapted to communicate seccessively with said main port during the rotary movement of said valve piston, packing rings arranged in circumferential grooves at opposite ends of the valve piston and engaging with the bore of the valve cylinder, packing bars arranged in longitudinal grooves in the peri hery of the valve piston between said in ct and outlet ports and each provided at its opposite ends with rabbets which receive the inner sides of adjacent packing rings and springs arranged between the inner sides of the longitudinal packing bars and ghe bottom of the grooves containing said ars.

Witness my hand this 5th day of March, 1910.

EDWIN L. THOMAS. Witnesses:

Gno. A. THOMAS, WILLIAM J. MURPHEY. 

